I see alot of people on this forum who are "economic emigrants" wanting to move to Norway. I just want to get my point accross feel free to add comments if you live here and feel differently.
I have been contated on this site by people wanting to faulsely succure a visa for norway... Completely pointless as once here you will be screwed without savings.
At the same time i see people that see moving to norway as moving to a new city. Its so so so so far from that i need to express it in a post.
You need savings... Lots of savings.
Please note in Oslo it seems to be easier then this but in general this is how i feel it goes...
Norway is a challenge for an Expat and breaks alot of people. (70% of my term 1 language class have returned home and 4 people from term 2 are thinking of it) To make it here you need to invest in Norway, learn its culture, learn its language, try to make friends and network to find work. It can be soul sucking having no friends, work, social life.
I have also met several people who have seeked asylum in Norway and are severely depressed isolated and lonely.
Norway is expensive if you dont have work over here or a partner willing to support you, within the year you will probably be getting a flight home.
Work is hard to find full stop. In Norwegian culture an individual earns enough to support the family this means people can persue a career they want. Its safe to be out of work and to take it easy... Why do i mention this? Because its normal for Norwegians to take the laid back approach to job hunting. Handing out 1000 CVs with few if any replies is normal. Even the job seeking companys that work for job seekers seem to work 1 hour a week.
Norway is a socalist country and i cannot stress this enough. If you dont know what that means look it up. The capatalism of the UK means that workers are disposible and you are paid little but its easy to find work.
Nowegians are generally happy in thier work (like i said above they can find the right job for them) youngsters generally work in the supermarkets till education is finished then find the job they want.
Norway works for Norway to provide for Norway. with a pinch of a superiority complex you will struggle as a non Norwegian to be accepted and helped along.
Be prepared to be on your own, Norwegians by nature do not come accross friendly and feel they dont need to.
There is little going for a support network for non Norwegians.
Be prepared to learn norwegian and spend money to do this. It will cost you 18,000kr to get a B1 qualification that employers will want to see to show you understand Norwegian.
If you want to make friends you need to pay to join a club (Norwegians love outdoor activities)
Anyone wishing to contribute feel free